OAR: Operation Arboretum Renewal

Operation Arboretum Renewal is a flexible, grassroots volunteer program to maintain the grounds of the beautiful Leila Arboretum and Children's Garden. It's an opportunity to contribute meaningful volunteer time by providing tender loving care to an adopted garden space.

- Looking for meaningful activities you can do with your entire family?
- Want to spend time outdoors in the splendor of nature?
- Need a season-long teambuilding experience for your work group?
- Want to make a real difference in the beauty of your community?
- Need fun volunteer activities for a scout group, honor society, 4-H club or community group?
- Like to garden, but have no yard?
- Want to help your children develop pride and responsibility?
- Need an enjoyable way to rack up volunteer hours in the MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program?

If yes, join Operation Arboretum Renewal!

In OAR, you’ll get to
- adopt a garden of your choice in either the arboretum or the children’s garden.
- work in your own group, on your own schedule.
- choose a small or large garden.
- weed, plant, dig up and complete other meaningful tasks that make a visible difference.
- experience the pride and joy of knowing you’re helping create a more beautiful place in Battle Creek.
- feel the satisfaction of seeing the results of your efforts.
- get experience you can learn from and apply in your own garden.
- take home extra plants that you divide.

We provide OAR participants with
- garden bed schemes
- bed maintenance plans
- expertise of qualified horticulturists
…all to make your part of the program as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Is OAR right for you? All you need are
- a love of gardening.
- basic gardening tools.
- a few hours to volunteer each week.
That’s all! There is no cost to participate.

For further information, site selection assistance and instructions, please call Sue at (269) 969-0270 x 116 e-mail suek@LASgarden.org.

Some of our work:

Plant Sale Highlights

Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise' is a wonderful cultivar of a sun-loving native plant.

Barrenwort, Epimedium rubrum, is a wonderful groundcover for dry shade.

Grapes just waking up in the greenhouse for spring growth. Choose from 'Concord' or 'Niagra' to grow on an arbor or pergola.

Foamy bells, Heucherella 'Sunspot,' is a carefree shade perennial that is perfectly suited to our gardens in Southwest Michigan.

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Bugbane, Cimicifuga racemosa 'Brunette,' has wonderful bronze foliage with white flowers in the summer. This plant gets tall and needs shade to grow well. It also likes its roots to stay moist; otherwise it wilts dramatically, especially in direct sunlight. But it is a stately and unique plant!